Framus Small Parlour

Acoustic small sized (about parlour-size) guitar It's probably a model 5/1, at least it has so writting on the back part of the neck in the neck-pocket, so I found out during restoration (see below). Bolt-on neck, truss-rod, thin brass frets, rosewood fingerboard, solid wood neck (spruce?), solid wood top (also spruce?). Sunburst finish.

It has a sweet, but solid sound. It does sound somewhat small and also straightforward. I think it's nice. Because of the solid top and rather thin-applied nitro-lacquer it's pretty vibrant. Not bad at all!

I bought the guitar through an internet sale and it arrived in a devestating state. I couldn't have known, because the photo in the add was blurry and the seller answered my questions not adequate, but the price was very low (40 US dollar or so), so I figured what the heck. I had to change the tuners because the old ones were too much damaged. It had cracks all over and most glued edges were loose, also some braces had come loose. I painstakingly glued everything back and whatta ya know: it came alive again! Only problem is the neck having a slight back-bow, even with the truss-rod turned loose all the way. Even so, it is very playable, comfortable even! Probably beacause it has a flat fingerboard with no radius, the back bow causes little problems. The finish, that originally must have been a beautifull sunburst, is terrible: it's gone at all the edges (no bindings...), bumped and scratched everywhere. But it does give the guitar a beautifully aged and worn-down look (it's probably about 30 years old). I hardly take it out, so it serves as a home-fiddling and recording guitar, enjoying it's hard-earned peace.

It's 30 years old and now it could easily last another 30. It has a very simple and therefore sturdy construction.

Don't know.

I love the sound and it's worn-out appearance. It oozes blues and ragtime. It was definately meant as a student/beginners guitars but offered and still offers some quality, especially beacause of the solis spruce top. It compares to early Gibson small acoustics (according to German guitar-magazine Gitarre und Bass it's rather simular). If you play acoustic blues, ragtime or bluegrass, this is a great guitar with authentic looks and sounds!

This 1955/56-ish Framus has virtually no features whatsoever. Great: we need'nt worry about that, then, do we? But seriously: All features are named in the other reviews. Notable things: mine has a rosewood western-style bridge and thus no other tailpiece. The original white-plastic string pins are long lost and replaced with ebony pins with MoP dots. The tuners were bent, worn and missing knobs; I've replaced them with nice open-back Boston items that work well for the few bucks they cost. The finish is now very 'relic' - That is: it's flaking, cracking, and just generally worn. Lovely. Weird double sunburst pattern on the top! There's no trussrod, which proved to be a pain in the neck... The top is allegedly made of solid spruce!

I play anything on this little box, using it to work out chords and riffs for various songs. But the sound would work fine for very different work; somewhat brittle yet still quite responsive. Nice, hollow parlour-box sound. Somehow, it strangely compares to the opening sequence of Dire Straits' Walk Of Life (it does to me :-) ). Rather a whisper though, you would need to mic it heavily should you play it live. But hey: it's tiny. What would you expect? Anyway: I like it for it's character.

Factory set-up?? I really don't know; the guitar is twice my age. When I got it, though, the neck had developed a terrible back-bow that I corrected to some extent with some heat and careful clamping. Also, it needed a new saddle (got a bone strip and made one), a bracing had split (hurrah for quick-drying wood glue), the finish was flaking and badly crazed... Then again: after apparently being used as a toy, it had been lying in a damp, cold environment for decades. Literally. Can't blame the old thing then... But giving a proper rating would be impossible.

This guitar is no longer fit for live gigging - period. It's a nice little thing to just play on the couch or whatever, or maybe to colorize a studio track which it would do happily, but traveling... I don't think so. The tuners I've now fit are great though, and I strongly feel that had the guitar not seen this much malpractice, it would have been a sweet little allrounder. The biggest question is how the neck will hold up after treatment, but so far it hasn't caused any more serious problems.

Don't know, I've not yet used any factory support. I will, though, since I want to find out just exactly what type of Framus guitar this is, and how old it really is. I might get back on that later.

I've not been playing too long, and mainly as a sideline to playing bass, for which basic understanding of chord fingerings is a big bonus. I bought this little box on a whim, thinking it would look nice on the wall if nothing else. It's just that thing I have for old, worn things, that really show that they have a whole life behind them... There's nothing really I'd wish it would have, other than a trouble-free neck or at least a truss rod. Re-setting or restoring aren't options because the cost would far exceed the value of the guitar. I love the sound of it though, and the basic neck shape and appointments are very pleasing. The heavily aged finish is a nice thing too, lending tons of character to the appearance. Were this guitar to be lost or stolen, I'd probably weep bitter tears over it and not be able to replace it any time soon since this specific model seems hard to come by these days. I just love the old bugger dearly, even though it's become very flawed over the course of time. Price paid is for the remains, the end calculation including two string pins, a saddle strip, new machines and D'Addario bronzewound 0.010's added up to about 35 Euros. And a headache over the neck. And a lot of fun in getting it to be somewhat playable, and actually playing it. The rating's for all types of fun involved that all came at low expense.

1966 (or thereabouts) small beginner's instrument. Floating bridge, all laminate, plated steel tailpiece. 3-on-a-strip tuners that work surprisingly well after all these years. Has a steel reinforced neck, a zero fret(!) and rosewood slab fingerboard with no radius. 24 inch scale. Top is still flat, looks like the back had been seperating but a previous owner glued it back. The bridge is pretty primitive, actually looks like a strip of extra jumbo fretwire (not sure if this is original). Neck has just the right amount of relief, not even close to needing a reset. Unlike other Framus necks I've seen this one is not laminated from thin maple strips but seems to be a simple traditional maple affair with a tilted back headstock.

Very clearly a cheap guitar- the soundhole and edge "bindings" look pretty convincing but are actually painted on with what looks like a black magic marker and then lacquered over. Still, it's very well done and looks good. The finish looks like thin nitro- the grain of the wood prints trough nicely.

The vibe is weird- it's like a super cheesy Silvertone or Kay, but much, much better made. The sunburst finish is very nicely done. It has a shimmery chinzy quality to the sound that is faintly like a 12 string.

A great old school blues box.

weeellll... I got it from probably the 5th owner. Still it was in good order, no structural issues other than the expected dings, chips and whacks you'd expect from a college dorm mid 60's guitar. Actually the finish, for it being 40 years old, is remarkable.

built like a little Panzer. The hardware has not blistered or pitted and looks better than some of what I've seen on brand new low end instruments. Even the tuner worm screws are blued steel; no sign of deterioration on the plastic buttons; no sign of top warping. The neck is in excellent shape. It doesn't need a backup, but it's not the only guitar you'd gig with because it's got a sound that won't suit all.

no experience.

This thing is great! I had a cheap Silvertone almost exactly like this (but built like shit). It was so sleazy that I sold it. This is a quantum improvemnt. Ya gotta rate this thing for what it is, because it has a distinctive personality. If it was lost or stolen, I'd be out looking for another...but it would be a long hunt.

Other instruments I have include a '40s Gibson L7 archtop, a '70s Suzuki Three-S Martin copy (a great guitar);a 40's Martin D-18; a Martin postwar Style O Uke, and an African oil-can guitar.

Old 1960's small 3/4 body parlour type 6 string acoustic guitar. Finish getting to that nice crackly stage, similar to the new reproduction guitars that martin are making. Looks like the sort you see old bluesman with in those old black and white photos. A bit like a stella, but this is Framus, maed in the heart of bavaria. Nice steel tailgate, floating bridge.

Bright tone, ageing process working just right. I'm sure it has improved with age.

Nice for fingerpicking, maybe slide as action is a little on the high side, but still playable if youre not into slide. No doubt the aciton could be adjusted if required. All original tuners and still 100% ok. No rattles and buzz's.

Would need pickup for live playing. As its about 40 years old, wouldn't be right to gig it!

Overall its a nice little guitar, more suited to a second or third guitar, but looks fantastic on the wall and i pick it up every now and again and play them blues